Jan 06, 2014
It may be the slowest time of year on the trade show calendar, but that didn’t stop companies from continuing to fill their ranks, as well as promote people from within.
Cleveland-based International Exposition Center (I-X Center) added two new members to its sales staff - Travis Poppell, as director of sales, and Lisa Shields, as associate director of sales.
Poppell will be responsible for developing and leading the I-X Center sales team to identify and cultivate new major trade shows, conventions, large consumer events and other new business opportunities for the venue
“… more
Nov 20, 2013
Trade show industry veteran, Tracy Garcia, was named the new show director for two of Hanley Wood Exhibitions’ mainstay shows - International Roofing Expo and International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo.
Garcia is taking over for Lindsay Roberts, who now is show director of the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, which Hanley Wood purchased earlier this year.
"Tracy Garcia has a great deal of expertise and an outstanding track record," said Donna Bellantone, the company’s vice president of operations.
She added, "Her considerable knowledge and skills will… more
Oct 27, 2013
A few months shy of the two-year anniversary of John Gallagher stepping into the dual roles of president and CEO for Germany-based Messe Frankfurt's Atlanta-based U.S. subsidiary, he is leaving and will be replaced by Kathryn Fitts and Dennis Smith.
Fitts has been serving as vice president of finance and administration, and Smith has been serving as vice president of sales in the Atlanta office.
The changes will be made effective immediately, though their new titles have not been revealed yet.
"Kathryn Fitts and Dennis Smith are the new leadership team at Messe… more
Oct 15, 2013
Convention and visitors bureaus all over the United States made several hires in positions ranging from sales and marketing to business development.
In addition, other companies also kept us the brisk hiring pace that has been the trend for the past year.
The Fort Worth (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau (FWCVB) named Mitch Whitten as the new vice president of marketing and communications. A long-time resident of Fort Worth, Whitten is set to begin his new position Oct. 2.
On Nov. 18, Amy Patterson will join Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) as vice president, business… more
Sep 18, 2013
After 40 years with J. Spargo & Associates, John W. Spargo will step down from the CEO post and Susan Bracken, president and COO, will step in, effective Sept. 23.
Spargo founded the company in 1973 that now employs 160 full-time professionals.He will retain his chair position of the company’s board of directors.
The change in leadership was part of what the company called a “carefully crafted strategic plan” that was adopted by the board.
“Working at the company and with its talented employees and management team for nearly 40 years has been an honor,”… more
Sep 04, 2013
U.K.-based Daily Mail and General Trust, owner of dmg :: events, recently made several executive changes, including promoting Geoff Dickinson to CEO, as well as Simon Mellor to senior vice president for the Middle East and Asia and Galen Poss to vice chairman.
Suresh Kavan, who held both CEO and chairman titles of dmge, now will shift into a chairman role, but maintain his CEO position for dmg information.
The new appointments were announced at DMGT’s Investor Day presentation in London and will be effective beginning Oct. 1.
Dickinson is currently president of dmge Middle East and… more
Aug 04, 2013
The summer months haven’t slowed down the busy hiring pace by show management and supplier companies, with two new leaders being named at CVBs and a host of other people news in the past month.
Milton Segarra was named the new president and CEO of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau. Segarra previously was executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and served as Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce. He also has held various sales, marketing and C-level management positions with some of Puerto Rico’s top international hotel brands, including… more
Jul 18, 2013
Freeman’s chief sales officer, Bob Priest-Heck, will step into the president and COO role when John O’Connell, the company’s current president, retires June 30, 2014.
The leadership transfer will be in phases, with Priest-Heck assuming the COO role Aug. 1 of this year and reporting to O’Connell and Freeman CEO Joe Popolo.
When O’Connell retires, Priest-Heck will step in his new president role, overseeing the Freeman Companies, overseeing Freeman’s Exposition business, as well as Freeman AV and FreemanXP.
"As a family and employee-owned business, we… more
Jul 06, 2013
The start of summer has kicked off with a steady stream of hires and promotions at both show management companies, convention and visitors bureaus and supplier companies, signaling a continued healthy environment for the trade show industry.
The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau promoted of Rachel Peavy to director of public relations. In her new role, Peavy will create and implement campaigns to support ACVB marketing, sales and tourism programs.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry, hired former Reed Exhibitions… more
Jun 24, 2013
Douglas L. Ducate, president and CEO of the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, announced today at the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association’s Annual Summer Educational Conference that he will step down at the end of this year.
Ducate, a 45-year industry veteran who has held the CEIR post for 15 years, explained he believed CEIR deserves "younger and stronger legs to carry some of the new initiatives to success."
CEIR Chairman and Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Greg Ortale said, "The respect and presence that our… more
Partner Voices
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